1956 Philadelphia Eagles season


The 1956 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 24th in the league. They failed to improve on their previous output of 4–7–1, winning only three games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

Off Season

The Eagles change coaches during the off season. Jim Trimble was fired on December 12, and they hired Hugh Devore. Jim Trimble's legacy is more connected to football products, thanks to his "slingshot" goal posts. In 1966 would design and market the idea. Today they are the common goal post at football games.
For the 6th year in a row the Eagles hold training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania. They continued to hold training camp there until 1967.

NFL Draft

The 1956 NFL Draft was held on November 29, 1955. The draft was 30 rounds long, with 12 teams making picks. A total of 360 players were selected. The Pittsburgh Steelers got this year's Lottery Bonus Pick and with it they selected Gary Glick a Quarterback that went to Colorado State University.
The 1955 Eagles finished with a 4–7–1 record and will get to pick 4th or 5th in the rounds with the Chicago Cardinals. With their first round pick the Eagles selected Bob Pellegrini He was featured on the cover of the November 7, 1955, edition of Sports Illustrated magazine. a Center from the University of Maryland, College Park. The Eagles made a total of 30 picks in this year's draft.

Player Selections

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with.
Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

Schedule

Standings

1956 roster

'
  • + = Was a Starter in the Pro-Bowl
NO. PlayerAGE POS GP GSWTHTYRSCollege
Hugh DevoreCOACH'1956
record
3–8–1		Eagles
Lifetime
3–8–1		NFL
Lifetime
3–10–1		1stUniversity of Notre Dame
20Bibbles Bawel26DB1201856–14Evansville
60Chuck Bednarik31LB-C1202336–37Pennsylvania
81Eddie Bell25DB-LB1202126–11Pennsylvania
33Will Berzinski22HB401956–2RookieWisconsin-LaCrosse
36Dick Bielski24E-FB1202246–11Maryland
89John Bredice22E1202136–1RookieBoston University
40Tom Brookshier25DB1101966–03Colorado
10Adrian Burk29QB1231906–26Baylor
84Hank Burnine24E701886–2RookieMissouri
78Marion Campbell27DE-DT-MG-G-T1202506–32Georgia
66Frank D'Agostino22G-T1202456–1RookieAuburn
65Tom Dimmick25C-T-LB1202536–6RookieHouston
27Hal Giancanelli27HB701825–103Loyola Marymount
64Abe Gibron31G202435–117Purdue, and
Valparaiso
63Ken Huxhold27G1202266–12Wisconsin
23Ken Keller22HB1101805–10RookieNorth Carolina
50Bob Kelley26C1202326–21West Texas A&M
71Don King27DE-DT302606–32Kentucky
79Buck Lansford23G-T12122326–21Texas
68Dick Murley23T502476–0RookiePurdue
68Maury Nipp26G302196–04Loyola Marymount
41Jerry Norton25DB-HB601955–112SMU
43Jim Parmer30FB-HB401936–08Oklahoma State
53Bob Pellegrini22LB-G1202336–2RookieMaryland
25Pete Retzlaff25E-HB-TE1002116–1RookieSouth Dakota State
71Jim Ricca29MG-T-G-DT102706–45Georgetown
72Jess Richardson26DT1102616–23Alabama
22Lee Riley24DB901926–11Detroit Mercy
52Wayne Robinson26LB-C1102256–24Minnesota
45Rocky Ryan24DB-E1202026–1RookieIllinois
24Don Schaefer22FB1202106–0RookieNotre Dame
82Tom Scott26DE-LB1202186–23Virginia
43Bob G. Smith23HB401955–101Nebraska
80Bill Stribling29E202066–15Mississippi
11Bobby Thomason28QB1291966–17VMI
83Bobby Walston28E-HB-K1201906–05Georgia
77Jim Weatherall27DT-T12122456–41Oklahoma
46Ted Wegert24HB702025–111none''
86Norm Willey29DE-G-E902246–26Marshall
75Frank Wydo32T-DT1202256–49Cornell
73Sid Youngelman25DT-DE1202576–31Alabama
41 Players
Team Average		25.812218.46–1.32.6